Hillary Clinton – Love Her or Not – What’s a Decades Old Sex Tape Between her Husband and His Intern Have to Do with Anything at all?

Hillary Clinton - image from charles city today dot com

From the website Radaronline (via The Drudge Report), headlines blare: “Secret Sex Tape: Monica Lewinsky Caught On Explicit Recording Telling Bill Clinton, ‘I Could Take My Clothes Off…’, the article goes into some details, and suggests the “scoop” by the National Enquirer, might somehow harm Hillary Clinton’s chances should she seek the Democrat Party nomination for President in 2016. What is particularly annoying about trivial junk such as this is that it is blatantly sexist. One must assume that the wife (spouse or partner) is somehow cheapened by the antics of their other half (usually referred to as the better half). The fact that one is in a relationship, especially a marriage, with children involved, puts the onus, not on the victims (spouse, children), but the protagonists (cheating husband and his “flame”). Regardless, the personal heartbreak, and or rage felt by the “wronged” individual, especially if the event took place decades ago, has nothing to do with their ability or inability to apply for a job. The fact that this is a woman at the focus of an article that suggests Sec. of State Clinton would somehow be harmed in her career because of someone else’s actions, (a man-her husband) – suggests a sexists overtone.

Here come the critiques of hairstyle, clothing choice, and anything but where Hillary Clintons stands on the issues. The whole affair and subsequent impeachment had, at the time, and now in the present, done zip to harm the Clinton family, except privately.

These “startling revelations” may sell a few more copies of the tabloid in a grocery store, or Wal-Mart, however, what does it matter in the greater scheme of things?

There is plenty to question politically and ideologically regarding Hillary Clinton and her future plans as a Presidential contender, which would be more germane. There will be multiple candidates from both major parties, and hopefully candidates from a third party - one which will demand some attention due to the distaste for polarization directly tied to the two-party system, and the continual election of members of the political class, or in some cases political dynasties. The problems that Hillary Clinton faces will be scrutiny over decisions made while working for the Obama administration, the fact that she is a woman, unfortunately, can be a challenge, but less so than in previous elections. She is not only part of the permanent political class, but also part of a political dynasty. One might suggest a Bush-Clinton matchup in 2016 would be enough to make one look hard and long at any third party nominee.

There is, as far as one can determine, no suggestion that a royalty of sorts should have evolved from those families who serve our nation. It should be the individual, who is willing to put for their time and treasure as outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

From this perspective, a choice between Hillary Clinton, a third party candidate (with actual qualifications – someone such as Dr. Ben Carson, for instance) and Jeb Bush, would make the third party candidate appealing. The political benefit of electing a third party candidate to the highest office is multiple – it would lessen the power of the permanent two party system, bring a perspective to the Congresses that getting along and finding compromise would be beneficial, and it would devastate the special interests that pervade the nation, from the PAC’s to the lobbyists. That’s for starters.

Therefore, it is not what has happened in Clinton’s personal life past, but what her accomplishments, or failures have been in her political offices. The muddying of the waters by downright stupid reporting, whether it is what she wore, how she looks, detracts from her ability to perform as a candidate. This does a great disservice to the nation – something that the mainstream media, the major parties, and their affiliated sycophants are counting on.

An unrelated article, but a must read: From Huffington Post Black Voices, the article “A Message to Trayvon Martin Sympathizers” by contributor Romany Malco. Reach the full article at www.huffingtonpost.com/romany-malco/a-message-to-trayvon-mart_b_3612231.html. It is, without a doubt, one of the smartest articles written regarding the education system, the media, and reality that one might read this month.

I would suggest, hwoever, that a majority of what Mr. Malco is stating, is applicable not only to the African-American community, but to the entire population, regardless of race or ethnicity.

President Pitches Tax Rates – Highest for Small Businesses – the Rock, the Hard Place, and the only way out – Tax - We the People Need a Third Party.

From the Weekly Standard reporting on a New York Times article one finds the Presidents new tax plan that may be the next great idea to find funds, involved a corporate tax rate of 28 percent, and a small business tax rate of 40%. What one wonders is why there is not a flat tax rate across the board, which would be simple, and insure that everyone had some “skin in the game”, so to speak.

The fact that, despite tax hike after tax hike, whether on a federal or state level (See Massachusetts!), it appears there is never enough at the end of the day to prevent yet another tax hike. This is despite the fraud, abuse, and blatant mismanagement of funds, regardless of the political entity involved. At this point in his tenure as President and considering there is no step up (as we don’t, as of yet, have a Supreme Leader), the President can pitch anything that sounds good to him, and to the crazy progressives, and the rest – be dammed.

If he were truly interested in the historical aspect of his legacy, perhaps a stab at doing something novel would work – instituting a no-tax-loophole, across the board business tax and an across the board individual tax – one tax, not 20 taxes, or fees, or call it what you want that takes money out of the pockets of those who work for a living, regardless of income. A reasonable tax rate that would ensure the government has a supply of money to throw away, while the balance continues to prosper and give them – more money.

Massachusetts recently passed a transportation bill which included taxes on Cigarettes, gasoline, and computer software services. One can get a grip on the Cigarette Tax, with 19% of all adults smoking (CDC) that additional $1.00 tax per pack should generate some income for the State; the gasoline tax is now one of the highest in the nation at 24 cents per gallon, the cigarette tax (an excise tax, which has been taxed, is at $3.51 per pack), and they added a computer software tax. This tax is on IT services, as far as anyone can tell. The Mass. Legislature passed the tax, without fully spelling it out, giving it to the Department of Revenue instead, so they might right the rules (Miami Herald).

The transportation bill, or yet another transportation bill, is one which is vested in the never-ending Big Dig, the upkeep of those toll-takers on the Mass. Pike, and well, allegedly a high speed rail at some point in the future.

These latest MA taxes are on top of increases in the state sales, and income taxes, as well as fee hikes on everything you can image, including telecommunications, cables, cell phones, the family dog. It’s Deval Patrick on tax-steroids, aided by a willing legislature.

Deval Patrick, if one needs to be reminded, was the “test” for Barack Obama, both were mentored by David Axelrod, which, that should speak volumes as to the level of incompetence that has been unleashed on the nation.

Of course they mean well, they just don’t have a clue as to how to actually run the country, or a state, but who does? Surely the American Public can do better than it has in the past several decades. Not since Reagan has there truly been a bi-partisan leader, who was more concerned with how things would get accomplished rather than lining the pockets of his corporate friends. It is one of those rare individuals that one is hoping comes out of the woodwork. Someone who is smart enough to hire the right people to help them.

Until then, the lunatics will continue to run the asylums and the rest of us will be in continual awe of the incompetence – well, those that are not considered low-information voters. Between the State and Federal burden, families are struggling like never before, those on fixed incomes such as pensions/social security are feeling more than a pinch- the poor got poorer, and the middle class has almost evaporated. It is, the second coming of Jimmy Carter, and what is most disturbing, is that the general public, decided to give that style of government one more term!

Go figure – one has to love this country, despite the ups, and the downs, as there is always hope that the next time, we’ll get it right – as of yet, there’s not a single individual on the horizon from either party that offers much hope. Perhaps a third party is what is truly in order, one that has no friends on K Street (lobbyists), or family at the same address, one who’s sole intent is to manage the nation, rationally. Holding one’s breath is not advised.

“Pet Food Stamps” Program Now Available – Non-Profit Seeks to Aid Families Forced to Abandon Pets

This program may allow an elderly individual to keep best friend by their side - image from123rd.com

From: WWLP, NBC Affiliate, Springfield, MA: A non-profit organization has begun a new program: Pet Food Stamps. When one hears the words Welfare for Dogs, it might come as a bit of a stickler, given the overuse of entitlement systems and fraud in those systems, especially in Massachusetts, where EBT balances on receipts of over $7,000 have sparked just a bit of annoyance over the welfare system. That said, the fact that the program, run by PetFoodStamps, a New York 501c, offers those who are on any form of assistance, which falls below the poverty line, a way in which to feed pets, without abandoning them to a local shelter, where the end result is often “euthanasia”. This program suggests a blessing to those living on fixed incomes, especially social security, where the economy has take a huge toll, and losing a companion may be detrimental to both the elderly as well as their best friends.

In addition, the sign-up requires an upload of a photo identification, along with proof of eligibility to receive benefits in one’s state, or from the social security administration, (which would be a problem in say, Massachusetts). This would go a long way towards stopping the charity from being victimized by those who habitually abuse the system.

The “Pet Food Stamps” are access to shipments of chow for the family pet which is delivered through www.petflow.com A quick review of prices on dog chow, such as Core Wellness, grain free product, enjoyed by this bloggers three allergy prone dogs, is fairly reasonable – comparable to pricing at Amazon and other major online pet retailers.

Coupons are available through petfoodstamps.org which relies on donations, not government assistance.

What would be most helpful in these hard economic times, especially when individuals and families with pets who are working are struggling to make ends meet, would be a revival and passage of the Happy Act, which was proposed in Congress in 2009, by Thaddeus McCotter, Republican from Michigan and died in 2010 despite having good bi-partisanship support. The Happy Act would have allowed for deductions for expenses such as medical care for one’s pets.

For now, those with low incomes and facing the prospect of giving up their best friend due to the inability to pay for pet food may get some relief from PetFoodStamps.org.